Important Gold Bracelet Problem

Question

How could you use density to show that a gold bracelet contains elements other than gold? (CREATE AN EXPERIMENT FOR THIS PROBLEM)

Answer 1

The density of pure gold is 19.32 grams per cubic centimeter at 20 °C.  

Take the gold bracelet and determine the mass using an analytic balance.

Place the bracelet in a graduated cylinder with a known volume of water and determine the increase in volume. This will represent the volume of the bracelet.

Divide the mass by the volume to determine the density.

If it is 19.32 g/cm3, it is likely pure gold.  If it is significantly different from 19.32 g/cm3, it has other elements in it.